Lily Wilmoth

Lily Wilmoth grew up in the ballet studio. Her mother was a dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, received teaching diplomas from the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, and has taught ballet and national character dance in studios around the world. As a child, Lily was given valuable opportunities in the dance world. She trained in Canada and Germany before moving to North Carolina, where she began eight years of training in the Vaganova Method at Infinity Ballet Conservatory in Apex, NC, under Debra Sayles-Senchak of the New Jersey Ballet. She spent summers at Canada’s National Ballet School and American Ballet Theater, and trained under Luba Gulyaeva, Marina Medvetskaya, Alaine Haubert, Rosanna Gahagan, and Timour Bourtasenkov. Lily was given an opportunity to join the Russian company Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet in 2009, but was prevented from continuing in her ballet career due to a stubborn back injury. She instead completed a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Regent University and also completed training to teach the Vaganova Ballet Method. Lily is delighted to join Albemarle Academy of Dance in helping to share a rich and joy-filled dance education with our students.

Mary Grubbs

Mrs. Mary is an instructor to AAD's young ballet, jazz, tap, tumbling and musical theatre students. Mary began her training at a young age with Albemarle Academy of Dance where she was a member of the City Youth Ballet and The Showoffs competition dance company. While training, Mary received the Dance Educators of America scholarship allowing her to continue her studies in New York City well as perform throughout the country. Mary is passionate about dance and continues to take classes to further her knowledge. She is thrilled to pass on her love of dance and the performing arts to her students.

Edmund Roush

Mr. Edmund began his performing career at age twelve, performing in the Lost Colony outdoor drama. Edmund obtained his BFA degree in theatre and a minor in dance from East Carolina University. Edmund has performed all over the East Coast. He was a principal dancer with the Columbia City Ballet. His was a principal performer in 'Horn in the West' and has performed and taught for Charlotte Children's Theatre. Edmund is a member of the stage hands union and has been a technician for several traveling broadway productions. Edmund is married to Leigh Roush and they have two sons, Jonas and Gabriel.

Greyson Davis

Mr. Greyson serves as competition tap director and choreographer and teaches all levels of tap for AAD. His choreography and his students have won numerous awards throughout the country, including top overall award for Showstoppers nationals as well as appearing in the Showstoppers National video multiple times. Greyson is a sought after master teacher and choreographer throughout the eastern U.S. His major influences are Savion Glover and Jason Janas. His style is a low beat hoofing, while blending in a hip hop feel, all while keeping the roots of tap in mind. Greyson has performed onboard two cruise ships and for Disney. He has trained for eighteen years under such instructors as Jason Janas, Maurice Chestnut, and Acia Gray.

Meet Our Staff

Leigh Roush

Leigh Johnson Roush is the artistic director and owner of the studio. Leigh began studying ballet at a very young age, and has trained under such renowned instructors as Edward Villela, Marcus Alford, Mary Ann Mee, Kathryn Horne, and Duncan Noble. She has studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Wake Forest University and Eckerd College. She was a principal with the contemporary ballet company 'Dance Innovations' in St. Petersburg, and Dance Central - modern and ballet company. Leigh is certified with high honors in ballet and modern dance by Dance Educators of America. Leigh has been the director of AAD for twenty-five years. Her students have been accepted to study with the School of American Ballet, The Rock School, Atlanta Ballet, Carolina Ballet and Joffrey ballet. Other students have continued their dance training on the college level at such schools as New York University, North Carolina School of the Arts, East Carolina University, The School in London and Duke University. Her students have won numerous scholarships to prestigious dance programs in New York, Las Vegas, London and Orlando and are performing professionally in throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Leigh has been honored with numerous awards for her choreography, staging and technical training. She has judged and taught master classes for several dance competitions and companies throughout the United States, and is the artistic director of the 'City Youth Ballet'.

Jesse Springer

Miss Jesse is the director of the AAD performance company, The Showoffs, as well as an instructor for all ages in ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and tumbling. Jesse began her training at Albemarle Academy of Dance where she was a member of the City Youth Ballet and The Showoffs performance company. During high school, she was accepted to, and attended, the North Carolina School of the Arts where she focused on contemporary dance. After receiving her BFA degree in dance performance with a focus on ballet, modern dance and composition from East Carolina University, she became a soloist with the Balasole Dance Company in New York City. Jesse loves watching her students develop their joy for movement.